Manual package wrapping machine



g- 2, 1956 5. J. PETRELLA ETAL 3,263,392

MANUAL PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l SEbCVSf/fl/W J Pave/la .Sa/vafore J Petra/la 1N VENTORS g- 2, 1965 s. J. PETRELLA ETAL 3,263,392

MANUAL PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet Fig. 3 +5 4 Sebasflana J Pefml/a Sa/vafore J Ferrel/a IN VEN TORS 2, 1966 s. J. PETRELLA ETAL 3,263,392

MANUAL PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 8, 1963 Sebastiano J Petra/la Salvatore J Ferrel/a 1 N VEN TORS BY QM W Aug. 2, 1966 s. J. PETRELLA ETAL 3,263,392

MANUAL PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Fig. /0

Sebasfiano J Ferrel/a Salvatore J Ferrel/a 1 N VEN TORS United States Patent 3,263,392 MANUAL PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Sebastiano J. Petreila, 11A Golden Ave, and Salvatore J. Petrella, 18 Wright Ave, both of Medford, Mass. Filed Mar. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 263,923 11 Ciaims. (Cl. 5333) This invention generally relates to a manually operated device and method for wrapping packages with plastic film such as polystyrene, polyethylene, cellophane or any sheet wrapping material that can be cut by a hot wire.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a device and method of the character indicated wherein components of the device are so arranged that one operator can wrap a package with one continuous motion.

Another object of the apparatus associated with this invention is that the apparatus will automatically provide the correct amount of wrapping material for each package without any additional motions by the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character indicated wherein the principal components are easily adjustable to accommodate various sizes of packages.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a method of wrapping which is fast and simple in that a single operator can easily wrap ten to fifteen packages per minute.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character indicated wherein heat is used to seal a wrapped package and may be so utilized to enclose the package completely.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which because of its simplicity requires little or no maintenance and its initial cost of construction is relatively low.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cutting tool for cutting the wrapped film on the packages which comprises a wire heating element.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter de scribed and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus comprising the subject matter of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view in elevation of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a left end elevational view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a right hand elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of FIGURE 3 and illustrating on an enlarged scale certain details of the novel apparatus comprising the subject matter of the instant invention.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 and illustrating further details of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 upon a greatly enlarged scale further illustrating specific details of the table support of the apparatus of the instant invention.

FIGURE 8 is also an enlarged detailed view of part of the structure shown in FIGURE 6 and illustrating further details of the instant invention.

FIGURES 9 to 12 illustrate the novel method of wrapping a package utilized in connection with the apparatus of the instant invention.

. Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more 3,263,392 Patented August 2, 1966 specifically to the general organization of the wrapping apparatus as illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4, a support 14 for supporting the apparatus is shown. Mounted upon the support 14, are a plurality of legs 16 supporting a table generally designated by the reference numeral 18 which supports and guides the wrapping material utilized to wrap the packages of the present invention. Rigidly attached to the rearmost leg 16 of the table is a roll-supporting bracket 26 formed with spaced apart in tegral upstanding lugs 22 between which a roll of wrapping film generally designated by numeral 24 is adapted to be disposed. The roll 24 is mounted upon a core 26 which has a shaft 28 embedded therein. The ends of the shaft 28 are slidably disposed in grooves 30 cut in the upstanding vertical lugs 22. The film on the roll 24 is made of plastic such as polystyrene, polyethylene, or cellophane or any other sheet wrapping material that can be cut by a hot wire for the purposes which will hereinafter become apparent.

The table 18 has an extension at one end thereof 32 which is perpendicularly disposed with respect to the table top 18 and mounts a bracket generally designated by the numeral 34 upon which a package such as 36 is adapted to be seated prior to being wrapped. A cutting element 38 is mounted above the table for cutting the wrapped film when the cutting operation has been completed and comprises an electric heating element to which current is fed through a suitable conductor in contact therewith as shown at 40. An electrically operated heat sealing device such as 42 is also mounted above the filmsupporting table 18 and is adapted to seal the ends of the cut wrapping to completely enclose the package within the film and is also suitably actuated from a source of electrical energy by means of an electrical conductor such as shown at 44.

Referring now to more specific details of the apparatus, the film 46 emanating from the roll 24 is adapted to be guided and threaded through portions of the table 18 to present an end of the film such as 48 to the user whereupon the manual wrapping procedure may be initiated. The table 18 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot means 50 extending substantially the length and width of the table 18. The film 46 emanating from the roll 24 is adapted to be threaded within this slot emerging there from to be grasped by a pair of vertically aligned rollers 52 and 54. For initiating the threading operation and for providing resistance to the longitudinal movement of the film 46, a longitudinal slot such as shown at 56 is cut in the table top and exposes the slot 50 to the user. It should be apparent that the film 46 is initially pushed longitudinally into the slot 50 whereupon it may be grasped by the wrapper by disposing his. fingers within the slot 50 through the access means 56 whereby the wraping may also be pulled towards the end of the machine and pushed out of the other end of the slot and then threaded between the rollers 52 and 54-. To provide resistance to the movement of the film through the slot a resilient element 58 is provided which is attached at one of its ends to the table top and has its other end such as 60 disposed within the slot 56. The end 60 has formed thereon in contact with the film a friction surface for retarding the motion of the film as it is pulled through the slot 50. It should now be apparent that the element 58 will tend to keep the film threaded within the slot in longitudinal alignment and also provides means wherein the film can only be pulled from the roll 2,4 by the force applied by the wrapper. To further maintain proper alignment of the film 46, a plurality of recesses such as 62 are cut in the table top on both sides of the centerline thereof. Disposed within the recesses 62 are plates 64 having a plurality of transversely spaced. apertures 66 formed therein. The apertures 66 open into the slot means 50 formed in the table top and are also aligned with a plurality of transversely spaced apertures 68 formed between the bottom of the table top and the slot means 50. Removably disposed in a preselected pair of aligned apertures 66, 68 is a peg 70 having a reduced diametrical portion 72. It should be apparent from FIGURES 1 and 7 that the portions 72 of the pegs 70 define the transverse limits of the transverse dimension of the film 46 which may be threaded through the slot means 50. It should also be apparent that this transverse dimension may be varied by removing the pegs 70 and replacing them in any other pair of suitable aligned apertures 66, 68.

The rollers 52, 54 are mounted between a pair of parallel channel-shaped arms 74 and 76. These arms are adjustably mounted upon the sides 78 and 80 of the table '18 by means of a slot 82 cut longitudinally in each of the web sections of the channel and the slot is adapted to cooperate with a plurality of threaded members 84 ex tending therethrough and threaded into the table sides 78, 80. As will subsequently become apparent, this adjustment when utilized in cooperation with the adjustment of the cutting element 38 enables the free end of the film, after a previous wrapping operation has been completed to be of a predetermined correct length for the next succeeding wrapping operation. Likewise, the cutting ele ment 38 is mounted between the ends of a pair of longitudinally extending members 86 and 88 which are adapted to be adjustable upon the sides of a support member 90 which overlies the table top and is connected to the sides 78 and 80 of the table. This support member 90 also mounts the heat sealer 42.

The package supporting bracket 34 comprises a horizontal seat portion 92 formed integral with a vertically extending mounting portion 94. The mounting portion 94 is adjustably positioned upon the table extension 32 by means of cooperating slots 96 and wing nuts 98 threadably mounted upon a screw member 100 carried by the mounting portion or plate 94. This adjustment permits ditferent size packages to be wrapped by the user inasmuch as the distance between the seat 92 and the table top may be varied. The seat 92 has cut therein a pair of V-shaped grooves or notches 102 so that the operator or wrapper may place the free end 48 of the film in abutting contact with the bottom 104 of the package 36, to initiate the wrapping process.

With specific reference to FIGURES 9 to 12, the method of wrapping packages which comprises part of the subject matter of the instant invention will now be described. This method contemplates that the operator or wrapper may completely wrap a package with one continuous motion and will have the correct length of wrapping left over at the free end of the film 46 to immediately initiate wrapping of another package. As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the operator grasps the free end 48 of the film 46 and contacts the same with the bottom 104 of the package 36 through the notches or apertures 102. The operator then removes the package 36 from the seat 92, still grasping the package and having the free end of the film wrapping 48 in abutting relation with the bottom 104 of the package. The initial motion of the package and free end 48 is upward and longitudinally away from the seat 92 using the depending portion 106 of the film as the radius of an arc in a pendulum-like fashion. As illustrated in FIGURE 10, due to this motion when the package is opposite the rollers 52, 54 the package will be wrapped on three of its sides, as the portion 106 has been wrapped around the top and one side of the package 36. With the same continuous motion, and as illustrated in FIGURE 11, the package is then moved further upwardly but longitudinally inwardly relative to the seat 92 still using the portion of the film 46 trapped between the rollers 52, 54 as the pivot means. However, as will be apparent any subsequent movement can only be accomplished by pulling more wrapping from the roll 24 through the slot means 50. This is done, and as shown in FIGURE 11 the fourth side of the package has been wrapped, and further upward and inward movement will cause part of the new pulled portion 108 of the film 46 to be disposed adjacent the cutting element 38 whereupon it will be cut as shown at 110. The operator continues with the same motion which causes the ends 108 and 48 to be disposed upon the heating element 42 whereupon the ends 48 and 108 are fused together thereby finishing the first phase of the wrapping process.

It should now be apparent that wrapped packages leave the machine with both sides of the package open and overlapped film fused together at the bottom of the package. If desired, the sides can be closed by using film wider than the package and applying heat to shrink the sides closed. This step is illustrated in FIGURE 12 wherein two streams of hot air such as shown at 112 and 114 which emanate from nozzles 116 and 118 respectively may be directed at the package sides as they move along an outgoing conveyor such as 120 on which the package has been placed. As an alternative step, the packages may be passed through a heating tunnel which will also close the sides.

With reference now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 5 it should subsequently become apparent that the machine is easily adjustable to automatically set the correct amount of wrapping materal for each package. Initially, the distance from the ends of the rollers 52, 54 to the cutting wire 38 may be adjusted so that the correct amount of wrapping material will be readily available upon wrapping of a subsequent package. The free end 48 of the wrapping film is initially threaded through the slot 50 in the table and disposed adjacent the package, the operator or wrapper insuring that the free end 48 is of suificient length so that the package will be wrapped approximately on three sides when opposite the rolls 52, 54 as shown in FIGURE 10. Upon subsequent continuous movement of the package to a position as shown in FIGURE 11, as noted, the operator will pull more wrapping from the roll 24. The portion of the wrapping 108 between the rolls 52, 54 and the cutting element 38 will be sufiicient material to repeat the foregoing operation to a position as shown in FIGURE 10. It should now be apparent that this may be accomplished by simply adjusting the rollers 52, 54 relative to the wire 38 or vice versa. Furthermore, the seat 92 may be adjusted vertically for different size packages, for example, when a larger package than the package 36 is desired to be wrapped, the seat will be moved downwardly, and the members 86 and 74, 76 will be adjusted accordingly. For a smaller package than that shown, the seat may be moved upwardly and the members 74, 76 may be moved inwardly of the table or the members 86 may be moved outwardly of the table. Also, the angular inclination of the cutting wire 38 may be so adjusted as to facilitate the one continuous motion of the wrapping operator.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. The method of manually wrapping a package with a thin heat sealable film disposed upon a stationary rotatable roll comprising the steps of placing the package upon a horizontally oriented support having access means to the bottom of said package, wrapping said package with said film by disposing one end of said film perpendicular to said package, grasping said one end and disposing it in abutting contact with said bottom, removing the package from said support while maintaining said abutting contact by raising it and moving it longitudinally outwardly with respect to said support simultaneously and then raising it and moving it longitudinally inwardly with respect to said support and pulling more film from said roll simultaneously, thereby completely encircling said package with film, cutting the film adjacent said pulled portion thus forming a second end of said film encircling said package and heat sealing said ends together.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of heat sealing the edges of said film together.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of heat sealing the side edges of said film together by directing two streams of hot air to impinge on the edges of said film.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said cutting occurs during said raising and inward longitudinal movement.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said cutting is by heat.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said roll is held in a non-rotational position during said raising and outward longitudinal movement.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said wrapping, cutting and sealing steps are performed in one continuous motion.

8. Manually operable package wrapping apparatus comprising means for mounting a roll of wrapping film, means for supporting an end of said film in a position wherein said end may contact said package to initiate the wrapping process, means for supporting a package to be wrapped, means cooperating with said film support means for rendering the correct length of film available for wrapping said package in one continuous motion, means mounted upon said support means for cutting said film when said package is wrapped and means for sealing said cut film and said one end about said package, said film support means including a table, slot means formed integral with and extending longitudinally of said table for threadedly receiving said end of film and guide means mounted on said table for guiding said film longitudinally and transversely thereof, said means for rendering the correct length of film available for wrapping said package in one continuous motion including a pair of vertically aligned and transversely extending rollers adjustably mounted at one end of said table and guiding said end of film therebetween, a pair of arms adjustably mounted above and straddling said table, said arms mounting said cutting element therebetween and disposed rearwardly of said rollers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said guide means includes a plurality of apertured plates received in cutout portions of said table on both sides of the centerline thereof and the apertures therein being aligned with corresponding apertures formed in said table beneath said slot means, pegs removably positioned within selected ones of said aligned apertures and slot means to restrict the transverse dimension of said end of film threaded within said slot means, and access forming means cut in said table to expose said slot means, resilient friction means mounted on said table and extending into said access forming means and slot means for contacting said end of film within said slot means to impart frictional resistance to the longitudinal movement thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said cutting means comprises an electric heating element.

11. Manually operable package wrapping apparatus comprising means for mounting a roll of wrapping film, means for supporting an end of said film in a position wherein said end may contact said package to initiate the wrapping process, means for supporting a package to be wrapped, means cooperating with said film support means for rendering the correct length of film available for wrapping said package in one continuous motion, means mounted upon said support means for cutting said film when said package is wrapped and means for sealing said out film and said one end about said package, said support means for said package comprising a depending portion of said table and a horizontal support seat for said package adjustably mounted upon said depending portion, and means cut in said seat for providing access to the bottom of said package when seated upon said seat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1951 Jensen et a1. 53-33 X 4/1965 Klamp 53-390 

1. THE METHOD OF MANUALLY WRAPPING A PACKAGE WITH A THIN HEAT SEALABLE FILM DISPOSED UPON A STATIONARY ROTATABLE ROLL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PLACING THE PACKAGE UPON A HORIZONTALLY ORIENTED SUPPORT HAVING ACCESS MEANS TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID PACKAGE, WRAPPING SAID PACKAGE WITH SAID FILM BY DISPOSING ONE END OF SAID FILM PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PACKAGE, GRASPING SAID ONE END AND DISPOSING IT IN ABUTTING CONTACT WITH SAID BOTTOM, REMOVING THE PACKAGE FROM SAID SUPPORT WHILE MAINTAINING SAID ABUTTING CONTACT BY RAISING IT AND MOVING IT LONGITUDINALLY OUTWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THEN RAISING IT AND MOVING IT LONGITUDINALLY INWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT AND PULLING MORE FILM FROM SAID ROLL SIMULATANEOUSLY, THEREBY COMPLETELY ENCIRCLING SAID PACKAGE WITH FILM, CUTTING THE FILM ADJACENT SAID PULLED PORTION THUS FORMING A SECOND END OF SAID FILM ENCIRCLING SAID PACKAGE AND HEAT SEALING SAID ENDS TOGETHER.
 8. MANUALLY OPERABLE PACKAGE WRAPPING APPARATUS COMPRISING MEANS FOR MOUNTING A ROLL OF WRAPPING FILM, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AN END OF SAID FILM IN A POSITION WHEREIN SAID END MAY CONTACT SAID PACKAGE TO INITIATE THE WRAPPING PROCESS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A PACKAGE TO BE WRAPPED, MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID FILM SUPPORT MEANS FOR RENDERING THE CORRECT LENGTH OF FILM AVAILABLE FOR WRAPPING SAID PACKAGE IN ONE CONTINUOUS MOTION, MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR CUTTING SAID FILM WHEN SAID PACKAGE IS WRAPPED AND MEANS FOR SEALING SAID CUT FILM AND SAID ONE END ABOUT SAID PACKAGE, SAID FILM SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A TABLE, SLOT MEANS FORMED INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID TABLE FOR THREADEDLY RECEIVING SAID END OF FILM AND GUIDE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TABLE FOR GUIDING SAID FILM LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY THEREOF, SAID MEANS FOR RENDERING THE CORRECT LENGTH OF FILM AVAILABLE FOR WRAPPING SAID PACKAGE IN ONE CONTINUOUS MOTION INCLUDING A PAIR OF VERTICALLY ALIGNED AND TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING ROLLERS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID TABLE AND GUIDING SAID END OF FILM THEREBETWEEN, A PAIR OF ARMS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ABOVE AND STRADDLING SAID TABLE, SAID ARMS MOUNTING SAID CUTTING ELEMENT THEREBETWEEN AND DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF SAID ROLLERS. 